4000 essential english words level 5

Unit 3: The Bachelor’s Lesson Word List 1. analytic [ˌænəˈlitik] adj. analytic If something is analytic, it is related to logic and reasoning. → The analytic article criticized the new plan and presented one of its own. 2. assert [əˈsəːrt] v. assert To assert a fact or belief means to state it with confidence. → He asserted that his mother’s cooking was better than his best friend’s. 3. bachelor [ˈbætʃələr] n. bachelor A bachelor is an unmarried man. → Since he was a bachelor, Jason did his shopping by himself. 4. calculus [ˈkælkjələs] n. calculus Calculus is an advanced type of mathematics. → By using calculus, scientists determined small changes in the stars’ brightness. 5. celestial [səˈlestʃəl] adj. celestial If something is celestial, it is related to the sky or to outer space. → Comets are celestial objects that are rarely seen. 6. cognitive [ˈkɒgnətiv] adj. cognitive If something is cognitive, it is related to learning and knowing things. → After her physical examination, her cognitive strengths were tested. 7. collision [kəˈliʒən] n. collision A collision is the act of two things hitting into each another. → The collision between the two cars created a loud noise. 8. competent [ˈkɒmpətənt] adj. competent If someone is competent, they are able to think or act successfully. → Competent employees are much better than unknowledgeable ones. 9. diploma [diˈploumə] n. diploma A diploma is a certificate proving that someone has completed their studies. → After four years of college, Mary finally had a diploma. 10. excel [ikˈsel] v. excel To excel at a subject or activity means to be very good at it. → Jenny excels at playing the piano. 11. geology [dʒiˈɒlədʒi] n. geology Geology is the study of the Earth’s natural structures and how they change. → Because he studied geology, he knew how the mountains were formed. 12. harness [ˈhɑːrnis] v. harness To harness something means to control and use it, usually to make energy. → The sails harness the wind in order to move. 13. intellect [ˈintəlekt] n. intellect An intellect is a person’s ability to understand things easily. → She was known for her quick and strong intellect as well as her beauty. 14. keen [kiːn] adj. keen If someone is keen, they are intelligent. → Only the keenest of students could have solved that math problem. 15. mythology [miˈθɒlədʒi] n. mythology Mythology is a group of stories from a particular country or region. → Egyptian mythology was the basis for a religion. 16. physiology [ˌfiziˈɒlədʒi] n. physiology Physiology is the study of the various parts of living things. → His work in physiology helped him understand how the human body works. 17. radioactive [reidiouˈӕktiv] adj. radioactive If something is radioactive, then it lets out, or is related to, radiation. → Radioactive materials can be very bad for anyone’s health. 18. relativity [ˌreləˈtivəti] n. relativity Relativity is a set of ideas about time and space developed by Albert Einstein. → Relativity teaches that light travels at the same speed in the universe. 19. sociology [ˌsousiˈɒlədʒi] n. sociology Sociology is the study of human society, its organizations, and problems. → Sociology teaches that people’s problems are a result of their society. 20. theoretical [θiəˈretikəl] adj. theoretical If something is theoretical, it is based on theory rather than experience. → His conclusion was only theoretical and not meant to be publicized.

Unit 1: The Little Mice Word List  1. allot [əˈlɒt] v.  To allot something means to give it to someone. → The coach allotted each team five minutes to prepare a strategy.  2. appall [əˈpɔ:l] v.  To appall means to horrify, shock, or disgust someone. → The boy was appalled when he saw the accident.  3. cache [kæʃ] n.  A cache is a hiding place for valuable things. → The pirates kept their jewelry in a cache hidden in a cave.  4. convenience [kənˈviːnjənt] n.  Convenience is a state of being able to do something with little effort. → The Internet allows consumers to shop at their own convenience.  5. dearth [dəːrθ] n.  A dearth is an amount or supply which is not large enough. → There is a dearth of money in my bank account. I can’t afford a new car.  6. deliberate [diˈlibərit] adj.  If a thing you do is deliberate, you intend to do it. → She made a deliberate effort to save money each month.  7. dire [ˈdaiər] adj.  When something is dire, it is terrible and very serious. → The tornado created a dire situation for the small town.  8. elapse [iˈlæps] v.  To elapse means to pass, as in seconds, minutes, or hours. → A few seconds must elapse before you can take another picture.  9. empathy [ˈempəθi] n.  Empathy is sharing or understanding another person’s feelings. → The caring nurse had empathy for her patients.  10. fanciful [ˈfænsifəl] adj.  When something is fanciful, it is unusual or unrealistic. → The girl had fanciful ideas about doing well in school without studying.  11. gripe [graip] v.  To gripe means to complain constantly. → Lawrence always gripes when he has to do chores.  12. grueling [ˈgru:əliŋ] adj.  When something is grueling, it is very hard to do. → The climber faced the grueling task of reaching the top of the steep mountain.  13. mundane [ˈmʌnˈdein] adj.  When something is mundane, it is boring, common, or ordinary. → The man had the mundane chore of raking thousands of leaves into piles.  14. opt [ɒpt] v.  To opt is to make a choice, especially when deciding in favor of something. → My brother likes chocolate ice cream, but I always opt for vanilla.  15. outrage [ˈautreidʒ] n.  Outrage is a very strong emotion of anger or shock. → Tommy was feeling outrage when his parents said he couldn’t go to the dance.  16. paltry [ˈpɔːltri] adj.  When an amount of something is paltry, it is very small. → The poor man had a paltry sum of money.  17. rectify [ˈrektəfai] v.  To rectify something means to correct it. → I quickly rectified the spelling mistakes that I had on my essay.  18. resourceful [riˈsɔːrsfəl] adj.  When someone is resourceful, they are good at dealing with hard situations. → After his boat sunk, Matt was resourceful enough to build a raft.  19. sustenance [ˈsʌstənəns] n.  Sustenance is food and water needed to keep a person, animal, or plant alive. → Without the proper sustenance, the man will starve.  20. tedious [ˈtiːdiəs] adj.  When something is tedious, it is long, frustrating, and boring. → His job involved a lot of tedious typing, filing, and organizing.

Unit 1. The Little Mice Beth was a very resourceful and conservative mouse. She knew that winter was coming and that there would soon be a dearth of food. So she decided to make gathering food for winter her primary job. Gathering food was a grueling and mundane activity, but Beth made a deliberate effort because she knew that it was important. She allotted herself a few hours every day to collect beans. By winter, she had collected a massive pile and hid them in a cache. Beth had a sister named Mary. Mary lacked ambition. She had fanciful ideas about how she would survive winter. She thought that food would just come to her and that she could work at her own convenience. She opted to spend the days playing and dancing, instead of gathering beans. When the final hours of autumn elapsed, Mary had only a paltry amount of food stored away. Mary realized that her food supply was too small to last through winter. She visited her sister. Mary said, “Beth, lamina dire situation. I didn’t gather enough food for winter. Will you let me share your beans? Please have some empathy for your sister!” Beth thought for a moment. Then she replied, “Mary, I am truly sorry for you. But I will not give you any of my beans. Instead, I will let you have my empty bag. You can still work hard and gather enough food for the winter. It will be tedious, but you will learn the value of hard work.” Beth’s words appalled Mary. Mary cried with outrage, “There is too much work! I won’t have any time to dance or play!” Beth said, “It is crucial that you gather enough food. You must have sustenance before you have fun. Go now, and rectify your situation.” Mary griped some more, but she knew that her sister was right. She took the bag and went to work gathering her own beans for the winter.

Unit 2: The Helpful Abbey Word List 1. abbey [ˈæbi] n. abbey An abbey is a house or group of houses where monks or nuns live. → When the monk returned to the abbey, he went immediately to his bedroom. 2. abundant [əˈbʌndənt] adj. abundant If something is abundant, then it is available in large quantities. → Cakes, cookies, and candy were so abundant that the child was very happy. 3. adjoin [əˈdʒɔin] v. adjoin To adjoin something means to be next to or attached to something else. → She can listen to her brother’s conversations because her room adjoins his. 4. ample [ˈæmpl] adj. ample If something is ample, then it is enough or more than enough. → There was an ample supply of oats to feed the horses. 5. arid [ˈærid] adj. arid If a place is arid, then it is hot and dry and gets very little or no rain. → Not many plants grow in the arid desert. 6. cathedral [kəˈθiːdrəl] n. cathedral A cathedral is an important and often large and beautifully built church. → The large cathedral is full of people on Sunday mornings. 7. deprive [diˈpraiv] v. deprive To deprive someone of something means to not let them have it. → Because the child was bad, she was deprived of her dessert after dinner. 8. drought [draut] n. drought A drought is a long period of time in which little or no rain falls. → After three months of drought, the vegetation and trees started dying. 9. eligible [ˈelidʒəbəl] adj. eligible If someone is eligible, then they are permitted to do or have something. → Only people who bought tickets were eligible to win a prize. 10. fast [fæst] v. fast To fast means to go without food or drink for a period of time. → In her religion, they fast for five days and then have a big feast. 11. grumble [ˈgrʌmbəl] v. grumble To grumble means to complain. → He grumbled about having to work late on Friday. 12. inland [ˈinlənd] adv. inland If someone goes inland, they travel into the center of a country or land. → The river curved inland near the campground. 13. moisture [ˈmɔistʃər] n. moisture Moisture is small drops of water in the air or on a surface. → If you breathe on a window, moisture from your breath collects on the glass. 14. nonetheless [ˌnʌnðəˈles] adv. nonetheless If something happens nonetheless, then it occurs despite some other thing. → She tried to keep the dog out of the mud, but it got dirty nonetheless. 15. oath [ouθ] n. oath An oath is a formal, often public, promise. → Judges must take an oath to be fair to everyone in court. 16. prairie [ˈprɛəri] n. prairie A prairie is a large flat area of grassland. → The prairie was perfect for a farm because there were hills and trees. 17. ragged [ˈrægid] adj. ragged If something is ragged, then it is old, torn, and falling apart. → They could see his toes through the holes in his ragged shoes. 18. rugged [ˈrʌgid] adj. rugged If an area of land is rugged, then it is rocky and difficult to travel through. → Their car couldn’t make it far along the rugged roads. 19. scarce [ˈskɛə:rs] adj. scarce If something is scarce, then it is in a very small amount. → When gasoline was scarce, we rode our bikes, instead of driving, to school. 20. speculate [ˈspekjəleit] v. speculate To speculate means to guess about something. → My sister looked at the sky and speculated that it would rain tomorrow.

Unit2. THE HELPFUL ABBEY  It had not rained on the prairie for several months. Because of the drought, the climate had become very arid. There was no moisture left in the soil. No crops could grow in the dry ground. By wintertime, the people had nothing to eat. The hungry families heard about an abbey near the mountains where food and water was still abundant. So they traveled inland, across the prairie, to the abbey. At first only a few families arrived, seeking food and shelter. Then there was ample food. The monks fed them and let them sleep in the small cathedral. Soon, however, more families were arriving every day. These people had to travel farther, so they were in worse condition. The rugged journey had made their clothes ragged. They were cold and tired. The tiny cathedral was soon full. Food became scarce. The monks began to grumble. They began to speculate that there would be no food. “If more families come, we won’t make it through the winter,” said a young monk. “We must ask some of them to leave.” The abbot heard this. “We cannot do that,” he said. “It would be wrong to deprive them of food and shelter. We took an oath to help those that need help. All here are in need, so all are eligible to receive our food and shelter.” “But we won’t have enough,” the monk said. “That might be true, but we must help them nonetheless. We will fast,” the abbot replied. “Also, we will give our rooms in the abbey to those sleeping outside, and we will sleep in the churchyard that adjoins the cathedral.” The monks were reluctant at first, but they did what the oldest monk said. By the end of winter, there was still enough food and shelter for everyone. They learned that sometimes helping others means you must give more help than you first expected.

Unit 3: THE BACHELOR’S LESSON The Bachelor’s Lesson A keen young bachelor had finished his studies at the university. As soon as he had received his diploma, he asserted to everyone he met that he was the smartest person in town. “I excel at everything I study,” he said, bragging about his knowledge. “I’ve mastered calculus and physiology. I even understand the great theoretical teachings of science, such as relativity. There is nothing that I don’t know. Whether it’s the movements of celestial objects, like planets and stars, or how to harness the power of radioactive substances, I know everything.” But actually, there was something the bachelor did not know. Though his analytic abilities were great, he failed to notice he was missing something very important in his life. One day while walking through town, the bachelor witnessed a collision between two cars. Both drivers appeared to be injured, but the scholar only stood and watched. He thought to himself, “Those idiots should have been more alert. They really must not be very competent.” He never thought the drivers needed help. “Please help me,” said the female driver in a weak voice. “Help me, too,” said the male driver. “I’m hurt and can’t move.” Suddenly the bachelor realized he was the only person near the accident. He quit thinking and ran to help the drivers. He carefully helped them out of their vehicles and then called an ambulance. The drivers were saved, and the bachelor felt the best he had in his entire life. Studying mythology, sociology, and geology didn’t give him this wonderful feeling. It was the act of helping others, not his cognitive skills, that gave him this great feeling. He had learned an important lesson. He learned that intellect isn’t everything; being helpful is just as important. “Having only a brain is not enough,” he thought. “You must also have a heart.”

Unit 4: The Corrupt Administrator Word List 1. administrator [ædˈminəstreitər] n. administrator An administrator is a person who controls a business, company, or organization. → Everyone in the store did whatever the administrator asked them to do. 2. affluent [ˈæflu(:)ənt] adj. affluent If someone is affluent, they are wealthy. → People in the city are usually more affluent than people in the country. 3. audit [ˈɔːdit] v. audit To audit means to inspect financial records from a person or business. → The government usually audits companies that report lower than usual incomes. 4. automate [ˈɔːtəmeit] v. automate To automate a company means to install machines or computers to do the work. → When the bank automated, it started installing ATM machines. 5. bribe [braib] v. bribe To bribe someone means to illegally persuade them for a favor with money. → The judge was bribed so that she would set the suspect free. 6. corrupt [kəˈrʌpt] adj. corrupt If someone is corrupt, they break the law for money or fame. → The corrupt policemen didn’t arrest the man because he gave them money. 7. dispose [diˈspouz] v. dispose To dispose of something means to get rid of it. → He disposed of the can by throwing it into the recycle bin. 8. headquarters [ˈhedˈkwɔːrtərz] n. headquarters A headquarters is a building where the bosses of a company work. → He drove the long route to headquarters because it was a nice day. 9. incentive [inˈsentiv] n. incentive An incentive is what makes a person want to do something. → The chance of winning a prize was incentive to get people to play the game. 10. infrastructure [ˈinfrəˌstrʌtʃər] n. infrastructure An infrastructure is a collection of services needed to run a society or business. → Power lines are important parts of a city’s infrastructure. 11. legislate [ˈledʒisleit] v. legislate To legislate means to make laws. → Senators have to legislate fairly, so most people will enjoy the benefits. 12. legitimate [liˈdʒitəmit] adj. legitimate If something is legitimate, then it is acceptable according to the law. → She found a legitimate plan to raise extra funds for her vacation. 13. manipulate [məˈnipjəleit] v. manipulate To manipulate something means to skillfully or unfairly control or affect it. → The Dr. manipulated the data to make it look like the cure was working. 14. merchandise [ˈməːrtʃəndaiz] n. merchandise Merchandise is goods ready to be purchased or sold. → The store added more merchandise because there were more shoppers. 15. retail [ˈriːteil] n. retail Retail is the activity of selling goods to the public, often for personal use. → Though cheap to make, once a t-shirt reaches retail, it costs ten times as much. 16. revenue [ˈrevənjuː] n. revenue Revenue is the income made by a company. → The new products really increased the business’s monthly revenue. 17. rubbish [ˈrʌbiʃ] n. rubbish Rubbish is trash or waste. → The floor around the garbage can was covered with all kinds of rubbish. 18. subsidy [ˈsʌbsidi] n. subsidy A subsidy is money given by the government to companies to assist them. → The official gave the company a subsidy, so it could open two new factories. 19. transaction [trænˈsækʃən] n. transaction A transaction is an act of buying or selling something. → Because the clerk was new at the job, the simple transaction took a long time. 20. violate [ˈvaiəleit] v. violate To violate a law, rule, or agreement means to break it. → I was given a ticket because the policeman said I violated the speed limit.

Unit 4. THE CORRUPT ADMINISTRATOR The Corrupt Administrator Mr. Pig was an administrator at a big factory that made different kinds of merchandise. During a meeting at the company’s headquarters, his bosses said they wanted the factory to make more money. “If the factory makes more money, then you will too,” his boss, Mr. Horse, told him. It was a great incentive. Pig had always wanted to be as affluent as his bosses. Mr. Pig returned to the factory and started making changes. However, most were not very nice, and some were not legitimate. First, he fired all his employees. Then he automated the entire factory. Machines now made everything, and the other animals, Mr. Rabbit, Mr. Sheep, and Mr. Dog had no jobs. Next, he bribed some corrupt senators into legislating special subsidies for the factory. Finally, instead of paying a company to dispose of the factory’s rubbish properly, he violated the law by throwing it into the river to save money. At first, all the changes to the factory’s infrastructure created more revenue. But soon many stores could no longer sell the factory’s goods at retail. It seemed that the machines couldn’t make products as well as the workers. The customers were disappointed with the factory’s merchandise. There were other problems, too. The animals had told their friends and family to stop buying the factory’s goods. Officials discovered the factory’s rubbish in the river, and when they audited the company, they discovered that Pig had manipulated the law in order to get more money. All transactions with Pig’s factory stopped. The factory lost money, and Pig lost his job. He realized his mistakes too late. He had tried to become rich by saving money any way possible, but the cheapest way was not always the best.

Unit 5: a Famous Accident Word List  1. assess [əˈses] v.  To assess something means to judge the structure, purpose, or quality of it. → She assessed the condition of the toy car before buying it.  2. astonish [əˈstɒniʃ] v.  To astonish someone means to greatly surprise them. → The amount of people that came to her party astonished her.  3. commence [kəˈmens] v.  To commence something means to begin it. → His speech commenced with a “thankyou” to all who had helped him succeed.  4. essence [ˈesəns] n.  The essence of something is its important qualities or basic characteristics. → The essence of the argument was that both sides felt they had lost money.  5. extract [ikˈstrӕkt] v.  To extract something means to remove it. → The dentist extracted the woman’s damaged tooth and put in a fake one.  6. fabulous [ˈfæbjələs] adj.  If something is fabulous, it is extremely good. → This strawberry is the best I’ve ever had. It’s fabulous.  7. haste [heist] n.  Haste is speed in movement or action. → In order to get to the meeting in time, he proceeds with haste.  8. impulse [ˈimpʌls] n.  An impulse is a sudden thoughtless urge to do something. → Because of the scary noise, she had an impulse to run somewhere and hide.  9. latter [ˈlætə:r] adj.  Latter describes something last in a series or the second choice of two things. → In the latter minutes of the game, the visitors scored the winning goal.  10. molecule [ˈmɒləkjuːl] n.  A molecule is the smallest basic unit that makes up a physical substance. → A tiny drop of water is made up of thousands of molecules of water.  11. ongoing [ˈɒnˌgouiŋ] adj.  If something is ongoing, then it is still happening or still growing. → The development of plants is ongoing because it takes time for them to mature.  12. pharmaceutical [ˌfɑːrməˈsuːtikəl] adj.  If something is pharmaceutical, then it is related to the development of drugs. → Pharmaceutical companies discover new cures to illnesses all the time.  13. precise [priˈsais] adj.  If someone is precise, then they are exact and careful about their work. → The builder was very precise about where he placed the nails.  14. proximity [prɒkˈsiməti] n.  Proximity is closeness in time, space, or relationships. → All the trees in the proximity of the beach had been cut down.  15.publicity [pʌbˈlisəti] n.  Publicity is public attention given to someone or something by the media. → She received a lot of publicity after her performance in the film.  16. remedy [ˈremədi] n.  A remedy is a cure for a disease, argument, or problem. → A good remedy for a headache is an aspirin and a glass of water.  17. significance [sigˈnifikəns] n.  The significance of something is the quality that makes it important. → The significance of the snowy weather was that we didn’t have to go to school.  18. subsequent [ˈsʌbsikwənt] adj.  If something is subsequent, then it comes after something else in time. → The flood and the subsequent rescue of those caught in the flood were on TV.  19. synthetic [sinˈθetik] adj.  If something is synthetic, then it is made to be like something natural. → Clothing made out of synthetic fabrics is very effective at keeping people warm.  20. terminal [ˈtəːrmənəl] adj.  If something is terminal, then it causes or results in death. → Since his condition was not terminal, he felt a great sense of relief.

Unit 5: A FAMOUS ACCIDENT a Famous Accident One of the greatest pharmaceutical discoveries happened by accident. In his haste to go on vacation, Alexander Fleming had left his laboratory in a mess. The essence of his ongoing work involved a type of bacteria. An infection caused by the bacteria was often terminal, and he was looking for a remedy. He had left the bacteria out while he was away. When he returned from vacation, he found that his lab was covered in fungus. He started cleaning up the mess. While he was cleaning, he had an impulse to examine the fungus. He saw that whenever the fungus was in close proximity to the bacteria, the bacteria died. Though he was a messy scientist, his experiments were precise. He thought that there might be some significance to the fungus. He immediately commenced an experiment to assess what had happened to the bacteria. It had either died by accident or the fungus had killed it. The subsequent tests proved it was the latter reason. What he found astonished him. The fungus actually killed the bad bacteria. All this time, he had been looking for a synthetic material to kill the bacteria. Instead, a common fungus did the job. He knew that something in the fungus had killed the bacteria. His next step was to find those molecules that had done it. When he found them, he extracted them and put them into a pill. The drug proved to be very effective. It also worked against other types of harmful bacteria. The discovery received a lot of publicity. Soon after, the new drug was being used all over the world. Because of the success, the scientist was able to develop even more fabulous drugs to help people. His accidental discovery changed the world and helped save many people’s lives.

Unit 6: The Island Word List  1. altitude [ˈӕltətjuːd] n.  The altitude of a place is its height above sea level. → The air was thin at such a high altitude on the mountain.  2. coastline [ˈkoustlain] n.  A coastline is the outline of a country’s coast. → He noticed that most of the cities in Australia are on the coastline.  3. deter [diˈtəːr] v.  To deter means to prevent or discourage someone from doing something. → Icy roads deter people from driving their cars.  4. devise [diˈvaiz] v.  To devise something means to have an idea or plan about it in the mind. → The thieves devised a plan to steal the diamonds.  5. expertise [ˌekspə:rtiːz] n.  Expertise is the knowledge and skills to do something well. → John has a lot of advertising expertise. He can sell anything!  6. fracture [ˈfræktʃə:r] n.  A fracture is a crack or break in something. → Don’t stand on that teg because there is a fracture. It might get worse.  7. impair [imˈpɛər] v.  To impair something means to damage it or make it worse. → Drinking coffee impairs my ability to go to sleep.  8. implement [ˈimpləment] v.  To implement something means to ensure that what has been planned is done. → The school decided to implement a new teaching strategy.  9. indigenous [inˈdidʒənəs] adj.  If something is indigenous, it is originally from, or native to, a place. → Tomatoes are indigenous to the Americas.  10. insight [ˈinsait] n.  Insight is a deep and accurate understanding of something. → The physics textbook gave the student new insight about gravity.  11. limb [lim] n.  A limb is a large branch on a tree. → The monkey sat on the tree limb and enjoyed a piece of fruit.  12. migraine [ˈmaiːgrein] n.  A migraine is a painful headache that makes one feel sick. → My sister gets a migraine every time she has a lot of stress.  13. optimism [ˈoptəmizəm] n.  Optimism is the feeling of being hopeful about the future or success of something. → The mother had optimism about her children’s futures.  14. peculiar [piˈkjuːliər] adj.  When something is peculiar, it is strange, sometimes in a bad way. → That peculiar smell coming from the kitchen reminds me of rotten eggs.  15. proficient [prəˈfiʃənt] adj.  When a person is proficient at something, they can do it well. → Secretaries are proficient at typing quickly.  16. quest [kwest] n.  A quest is a long and difficult search for something. → The treasure hunter went on a quest to find an ancient gold necklace.  17. ridge [ridʒ] n.  A ridge is a long, narrow piece of raised land. → The brown bear walked along the edge of the mountain ridge.  18. spouse [spaus] n.  A spouse is the person to whom someone is married. → I live in a home with my spouse and our two children.  19. thrust [θrʌst] v.  To thrust means to push or move something quickly with a lot of force. → The boxer thrust his fist into the punching bag.  20. tolerate [ˈtɒləreit] v.  To tolerate something means to be able to accept it even when it is unpleasant. → When you are in a hurry, it can be hard to tolerate traffic signals.

Unit 6: THE ISLAND The Island “Where am I?” Bob thought to himself when he woke up on a peculiar beach. “I can’t remember what happened.” There had been a bad storm, and Bob’s fishing boat sunk. He washed ashore on a small island, but he had gotten hurt during the storm. He had a terrible migraine, and he had a fracture in his shoulder. He felt awful. But he had a strong desire to make it home to his spouse and children. He had to tolerate all the pain and devise a plan. Bob stood up and looked around. “I’ll walk to a higher altitude, so I can see everything around me,” thought Bob. “Maybe I’ll gain some insight about this island and find something to help me escape.” As he walked along a mountain ridge, he noticed that the tall indigenous trees looked sturdy and thick. Bob got a brilliant idea. He could build a raft! He cut down some leaves and tree limbs. Even though his shoulder injury impaired his ability to carry the materials, he slowly dragged them down the mountain until he reached the coastline. Bob was a proficient builder. He used his building expertise to line up the limbs and tie them together with long vines. When the raft was finished, Bob was happy with his work. “This will bring me home to my family,” he said with a smile. At last, Bob was ready to implement his escape plan. With all his might, he thrust the raft into the water. He climbed on and began the quest to find his way home. Bob smiled again, and thought, “I’m glad I kept a good attitude. It prevented the pain from deterring me from my plan. Optimism and ambition make anything possible.” Slowly, he floated out to sea. In a few days, he made it to shore and ran home to see his happy family.

Unit 7: Small World Word List  1. aquatic [əˈkwætik] adj.  If a plant or animal is aquatic, it lives or grows in water. → The dolphin is an aquatic mammal.  2. biosphere [ˈbaiəsfiər] adj.  The biosphere is the earth’s surface and atmosphere where there are living things. → Birds, trees, and worms all thrive in the biosphere.  3. bizarre [biˈzaːr] adj.  When something is bizarre, it is very strange. → My bizarre dreams make no sense to me when I am awake.  4. Celsius [ˈselsiəs] n.  Celsius is a scale for measuring temperature. → Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.  5. coarse [kɔːrs] adj.  If something is coarse, that means it has a rough texture. → The coarse sweater made my skin itch.  6. companion [kəmˈpænjən] n.  A companion is a person that someone spends a lot of time with. → I always walk to school with my companion Frank.  7. digest [diˈdʒest] v.  To digest means to swallow food and pass it through the body. → Allow some time for food to be digested before going swimming.  8. duration [djuəˈreiʃən] n.  The duration of an event is the time during which it happens. → The girls watched television for the duration of the evening.  9. ecology [i:kɒlədʒi] n.  Ecology is the study of the environment and living things. → We study ecology to learn how to help improve the Earth.  10. feat [fiːt] n.  A feat is an impressive or difficult achievement or action. → The elephant’s standing up on one leg was a feat.  11. infinite [ˈinfənit] adj.  If something is infinite, it has no limit or end. → Many scientists believe that the universe is infinite.  12. nucleus [ˈnjuːkliəs] n.  The nucleus is the central part of an atom or cell. → The nucleus is made up of many tiny particles.  13. parasite [ˈpӕrəsait] n.  A parasite is a tiny animal or plant that attaches to another animal to get food. → The sick dog was covered in parasites.  14. prominent [ˈprɒmənənt] adj.  When something is prominent, it is important and well known. → Queen Victoria was a prominent person in history.  15. repetitive [riˈpetətiv] adj.  When something is repetitive, it is repeated many times and becomes boring. → Working on an assembly line making cars every day is a repetitive job.  16. reproductive [riːprəˈdʌktiv] adj.  If something is reproductive, it has to do with a living thing producing young. → The reproductive system of a plant is simple.  17. temperate [ˈtempərit] adj.  When a place is temperate, it never gets too hot or cold. → In Peru, the weather is temperate and rarely gets too hot or cold.  18. tolerance [ˈtɒlərəns] n.  Tolerance is the ability to accept something painful or unpleasant. → Boxers have a high tolerance for pain.  19. undergo [ˈʌndərˈgou] v.  To undergo an action means to have it happen to you. → The cancer patient undergoes treatments twice a week. gous  20. vulnerable [ˈvʌlnərəbəl] adj.  When someone is vulnerable, they are weak and without protection. → He felt very vulnerable when he was stranded in the desert.

Unit 7: SMALL WORLD Small World Even though people can’t see me, I’m an important part of Earth’s biosphere. Scientists who study ecology know that I was the first life form on Earth. There is more of my kind than any other plant or animal in the world. Without me, other plants and animals would not even exist, lama protist, and my tiny body is made up of one single cell. In my small world, things can be absolutely bizarre. Unlike most aquatic plants and animals, I don’t need a temperate climate. I have a very high tolerance for extreme conditions. Right now, I’m swimming around in a bucket of boiling water! The temperature is 150 degrees Celsius, but I feel comfortable. I have coarse hairs called cilia that help me swim around in here. I move my cilia in a repetitive motion for the duration of my swim. I cannot go very fast, though. It takes me about five minutes to swim a distance of just one millimeter! When I get hungry, I look for tiny, vulnerable parasites. I swim up to one and swallow it whole. I digest things much like people do. I have an organ that works just like a human stomach. After I eat, I release nitrogen gas. Nitrogen is a prominent gas in the earth’s atmosphere. Other plants and animals need my nitrogen to survive. My reproductive ability is my most unique trait. I don’t need a companion to mate with. Instead, I undergo a process called fission, where my own nucleus splits in half. An exact copy of my nucleus is made, which forms into another protist. It really is an impressive feat. I can create an infinite number of new protists all by myself!

Unit 8: Becoming a Healer Word List  1. adept [əˈdept] adj.  If someone is adept at something, they are very good at doing it. → The carpenter is very adept at building houses.  2. barren [ˈbӕrən] adj.  If land is barren, it has no plants growing on it. → People cannot farm in barren lands.  3. ceramic [səˈrӕmik] adj.  If something is ceramic, it is made of baked clay. → The house’s roof was made of ceramic tiles.  4. culinary [ˈkʌləneri] adj.  If something is culinary, it is related to cooking. → I gained culinary skills after working in a restaurant for many years.  5. dense [dens] adj.  If something is dense, it has a lot of things close together. → I easily became lost in the dense forest.  6. dignity [ˈdignəti] n.  Dignity is the ability to be calm and worthy of respect. → When his company went out of business, he faced it with dignity.  7. dominate [ˈdɒməneit] v.  To dominate someone or something is to control them. → The loud man dominated the conversation.  8. edible [ˈedəbəl] adj.  If something is edible, you can eat it. → We learn about edible plants when we go camping.  9. hostile [ˈhɒstəl] adj.  If someone is hostile, they are angry and unfriendly. → We were happy to move away from our hostile neighbor.  10. intake [ˈinteik] n.  Your intake of food is the amount of food you take into your body. → The doctor said I needed to increase my intake of fruits and vegetables.  11. likewise [ˈlaikwaiz] adv.  If someone does something likewise, they do the same thing as someone else. → If Joe is staying away from school to go swimming, I want to do likewise.  12. malnutrition [mӕlnjuˈtriʃən] n.  Malnutrition is the condition of not getting enough nutrients. → After eating only a meager amount of food, she suffered from malnutrition.  13. medication [ˌmedəˈkeiʃən] n.  Medication is medicine or drugs given to people who are sick. → The doctor gave me medication to treat my illness.  14. misconception [miskənˈsepʃən] n.  A misconception is a wrong idea about something. → People once believed the misconception that the Earth is flat.  15. obscure [əbˈskjuər] adj.  If something is obscure, it is not well-known. → The old man travels the world in search of obscure books.  16. oppress [əˈpres] v.  To oppress someone means to rule over them in a cruel and unfair way. → Free speech had been oppressed in his country.  17. peel [piːl] v.  To peel fruits and vegetables is to remove their skin. → We peeled the apple before eating it.  18. prescription [priˈskripʃən] n.  A prescription is permission from a doctor to get medicine. → The doctor gave me a prescription for my medication.  19. respirator [respəˈreitə:r] n.  A respirator is a machine that helps weak or sick people breathe. → The man needed a respirator to breathe.  20. strive [straiv] v.  To strive is to struggle to achieve something. → People who strive to succeed often do.

Unit 8: BECOMING A HEALER Becoming a Healer Years ago, I worked at a small health clinic in a remote country. I had gone there to treat an obscure syndrome. It attacked people’s lungs, causing them to need a respirator to breathe. I was trying out a new medication to treat these people instead of using a respirator. If I was successful, I would become famous. Everything was going fine until war broke out in a nearby country. Many people from that country fled the hostile invading army. The army wanted to dominate the people, but the people didn’t want to be oppressed. So they walked hundreds of miles across barren land to get away. Some of these people came to our clinic for treatment. I talked with them and learned of their difficulties. They did not beg or complain. I was impressed by their dignity. There was one woman I will never forget. Her son suffered from malnutrition and stomach pain, and she didn’t know what to do. Neither did I.I was not adept at treating malnutrition. Nonetheless, when I saw her sadness, I knew I had to help her son. The woman had been feeding her son bread and water. She had a misconception that it would be enough for him. However, I knew that he needed to eat vegetables, too. So I took her outside and showed her a dense patch of edible plants. I taught her howto dig up the roots, peel them, and cook them for her son. I explained that she should increase her son’s intake of these vegetables. Likewise, she should strive to get him some meat once a week to help him regain his strength. I sent her off with a prescription for some pain medicine, but she also left my office with some new culinary skills. A few weeks later, she returned to tell me her son was healthy again. As thanks, she gave me a beautiful ceramic bowl. I never become famous, but I kept that bowl to remind me what it truly means to heal someone.

Unit 9: The Weaving Machine Word List  1. archaic [ɑːrˈkeik] adj.  If something is archaic, it is very old or outdated. → To be competitive, we must update our archaic equipment.  2. benevolent [bəˈnevələnt] adj.  If someone is benevolent, they are kind and generous. → My father was a benevolent man and gave lots of money to charity.  3. brass [bræs] n.  Brass is a metal that is used to make musical instruments and ornaments. → Brass is used to make musical instruments like trumpets.  4. capitalism [ˈkæpitəlizəm] n.  Capitalism is an economic system where private companies make goods for profit. → Most industries in the world today are based on capitalism.  5. component [kəmˈpounənt] n.  A component is a part of a larger machine. → Computers have many different components, so they are complicated to build.  6. dependence [diˈpendəns] n.  Dependence is a situation in which somebody relies on something else. → Young children have a dependence on their parents.  7. diminish [dəˈminiʃ] v.  To diminish means to reduce or get smaller. → As the economy got worse, my savings diminished.  8. drawback [ˈdrɔːbæk] n.  A drawback is a disadvantage. → The drawback of having a car is that it is very expensive to maintain.  9. fad [fæd] n.  A fad is something that is popular for a short time. → The hula hoop was a fad for a few years, but it soon lost its popularity.  10. impose [imˈpouz] v.  To impose means to interrupt or force your ideas on other people. → He imposes on his wife every morning by expecting her to make breakfast.  11. managerial [ˌmænəˈdʒiəriəl] adj.  Managerial describes something related to a manager or management. → Nancy has a managerial position at the bank.  12. medieval [mi:diˈiːvəl] adj.  If something is medieval, it comes from the period between 650 and 1500 CE. → We visited a castle that was built during medieval times.  13. obsolete [ˈɒbsəliːt] adj.  If something is obsolete, it is not used anymore because something better exists. → Since computers became inexpensive, typewriters have become obsolete.  14. peninsula [pəˈninsələ] n.  A peninsula is a large piece of land that is surrounded by the sea on three sides. → The state of Florida is an example of a peninsula.  15. prestige [presˈtiːrdʒ] n.  If a person has prestige, people admire or respect them. → The young actress gained much prestige after she won an award.  16. proportion [prəˈpɔːrʃən] n.  A proportion is an amount that shows the link between the parts and the whole. → Only a small proportion of the people in this town actually work here.  17. radical [ˈrædikəl] adj.  If something is radical, it is very new or different. → The president is planning to make some radical changes to the law.  18. refute [riˈfjuːt] v.  To refute something means to prove that it is false or incorrect. → The bank manager has refuted the claims that he lied to his customers.  19. spectacular [spekˈtækjələr] adj.  If something is spectacular, it looks or sounds very impressive. → There was a spectacular fireworks display in the park at New Year.  20. weave [wiːv] v.  To weave means to make cloth using horizontal and vertical threads. → We saw a woman weave a blanket on our vacation to South America.

Unit 9: THE WEAVING MACHINE The Weaving Machine Mr. Joseph Franklin invented a machine that could weave cloth. It wove faster and straighter than anyone could weave by hand. He decided to take it to two cities on a peninsula, Netherton and Wilton. In these cities, a large proportion of the people worked in weaving. Joseph felt sure he could sell his machine there. Joseph first took his machine to the mayor of Netherton. “Think of the money you will earn from this machine!” Joseph said to him. But the mayor was a benevolent man. He knew about the people’s dependence on weaving for their livelihood. If he bought the machine, the people would lose their jobs. So he refused to buy it. Joseph said, “We are no longer in the medieval age! Soon everything will be made by machines. Cloth made by hand will soon be obsolete. If you don’t change your archaic ways, your town’s income will diminish!” But the mayor said, “I don’t like capitalism. Don’t impose your radical ideas on my town. Go away!” So Joseph took his machine to the mayor at Wilton. This mayorthought Joseph’s machine was spectacular and spent a long time looking at its different components made of brass. The mayor couldn’t refute the fact that the machine had drawbacks that would affect the people’s jobs. But he realized the machine could bring money and prestige. So he ordered Joseph to build twenty of them. Within a year, Wilton was a wealthy city, famous for its wonderful cloth. People no longer wove but worked in managerial jobs at cloth factories instead. Nobody bought the cloth from Netherton anymore. The people of Netherton became poor and hungry. Finally, the mayor of Netherton called Joseph and said, “Now I realize that your machine is not just a passing fad. To succeed in business, we must be willing to change.” He then ordered twenty weaving machines. After that, both Netherton and Wilton became rich cities, famous throughout the land for their wonderful cloth.

Unit 10: Life on the Farm Word List  1. accountant [əˈkauntənt] n.  An accountant is a person whose job is to keep financial accounts. → The accountant helped me keep track of my money.  2. capitalist [ˈkæpitəlist] n.  A capitalist is a business person who invests in trade and industry for profit. → The capitalist invested in a factory that made wheat into cereal.  3. contempt [kənˈtempt] n.  Contempt is the feeling of having no respect for something. → The judge had contempt for the wicked criminal.  4. dedicate [ˈdedikeit] v.  To dedicate oneself to something means to put a lot of time and effort into it. → The nun dedicated herself to helping people in need.  5. ditch [ditʃ] n.  A ditch is a narrow hole cut into the ground by a road or a field. → When the car slid off of the road, it fell into the ditch.  6. enterprise [ˈentərpraiz] n.  An enterprise is a company or business. → My father owns an advertising enterprise.  7. exquisite [iksˈkwizit] adj.  When something is exquisite, it is very beautiful or pleasant. → The artist made exquisite watercolor paintings.  8. finance [fiˈnæns] v.  To finance someone or something means to provide money for them. → The government financed the scientist’s experiments with new weapons.  9. indifferent [inˈdəfrənt] adj.  When someone is indifferent toward something, they have a lack of interest in it. → Lisa is indifferent toward school. She doesn’t care what her final grades are.  10. irrigate [ˈirəgeit] v.  To irrigate means to supply water to land so that crops can grow. → In dry climates, it is important to irrigate fields of crops.  11. maximize [ˈmæksəmaiz] v.  To maximize something is to make it as great in amount, size, or importance. → You should exercise regularly to maximize a healthy lifestyle.  12. monetary [ˈmanəteri] adj.  When something is monetary, it relates to money. → A strong monetary policy is important for a country to be successful.  13. precaution [priˈkɔːʃən] n.  A precaution is an action that is meant to stop something bad from happening. → Asa precaution, you should put on a heavy coat before going out in cold weather.  14. preliminary [priˈliməneri] adj.  Preliminary describes something that happens before a more important event. → The runners must do well in the preliminary races to qualify for the final race.  15. saturate [ˈsӕtʃəreit] v.  To saturate something means to completely soak it with a liquid. → The sponge was saturated with soapy water and dripped all over the floor.  16. simplicity [simˈplisəti] n.  The simplicity of something is the fact that it is easy to do or understand. → We were able to find the house thanks to the simplicity of the directions.  17. sow [sou] v.  To sow seeds means to plant them in the ground. → He always sows his garden seeds in the springtime.  18. soy [sɔi] n.  Soy is a food made from soybeans, such as flour or butter. → Soy can be made into tofu, sauce, and also milk.  19. spade [speid] n.  A spade is a tool used for digging. → The gardener used her spade to make a hole for the seed.  20. upcoming [ˈʌpkʌmiŋ] adj.  When something is upcoming, that means it will happen in the near future. → The kids were worried about their upcoming exam.

Unit 10: LIFE ON THE FARM Life on the Farm Bill was an excellent capitalist. He financed a large aviation enterprise that made a lot of money. He knew how to maximize monetary gains in every business deal he made. Bill had one big problem, though. He was unhappy all the time. Bill knew that he had to do something about it, or he would be depressed for the rest of his life. One day, Bill was in his office when he heard a knock at the door. “Come in!” Bill said loudly. His accountant, Jane, walked in. Jane said, “Sir, I haven’t seen you smile in a year. What are you so sad about? Your company is doing very well.” Bill told her, “I’m indifferent about my company’s success. I have contempt toward my job. I just want to do something I enjoy. I’ve always loved growing plants as a hobby. I’m going to quit my job and become a farmer!” “You’re crazy!” Jane said. “I don’t think so,” Bill replied. “I want the simplicity of a life on a farm. I’m tired of all this stress. Farming will make me happy.” The very next day, Bill carried out the preliminary task of buying land and tools. Then he got to work. He sowed many types of seeds. He planted soy, cabbage, carrots, and onions. “The upcoming summer is going to be very dry,” thought Bill. “I need to irrigate my crops as a precaution, in case it doesn’t rain enough.” He took his spade and dug a ditch down the middle of his farm. “Water from the stream will flow down the ditch and saturate the soil around every plant,” Bill thought. Bill dedicated himself to farming. After a year, his farm looked exquisite. Most importantly, Bill was happy. He finally had the life he always wanted.

Unit 11: Beethoven’s Gift Word List  1. acute [əˈkjuːt] adj.  When a bad thing is acute, it is very severe and intense. → When she fell out of the tree, the girl felt an acute pain in her arm.  2. aggression [əˈgreʃən] n.  Aggression is behavior that is mean or violent to others. → The problem was only made worse by Mark’s aggression.  3. banquet [ˈbæŋkwit] n.  A banquet is a grand formal dinner. → Both families brought a lot of food for the wedding banquet.  4. biography [baiˈɒgrəfi] n.  A biography is an account of someone’s life that is written by someone else. → We read a biography about Charles Darwin in science class.  5. boost [buːst] v.  To boost something means to increase or improve it. → Lowering prices boosts customers’ interest in shopping.  6. clap [klæp] v.  To clap means to hit one’s hands together to express pleasure or get attention. → After the speech, everyone in the crowd clapped their hands for the speaker.  7. compel [kəmˈpel] v.  To compel someone to do something means to force them to do it. → Traffic signs compel drivers to drive safely.  8. dominance [ˈdɒmənəns] n.  The dominance of a person is their state of being more powerful than others. → Large gorillas hit their chests to express their dominance over others.  9. gorgeous [ˈgɔːrdʒəs] adj.  When something is gorgeous, it is very pleasing and attractive. → The girl picked out a gorgeous dress to wear to the dance.  10. inevitable [inˈevitəbəl] adj.  When something is inevitable, it is certain to happen or cannot be avoided. → It is inevitable that the days will get longer in the summer.  11. legacy [ˈleɡəsi] n.  A legacy is an effect that exists because of a person or thing in the past. → The legacy of the ancient Egyptians can be seen in their monuments.  12. masterpiece [ˈmæstərpiːs] n.  A masterpiece is a very good painting, novel, movie, or other work of art. → The Arc de Triomphe is considered a masterpiece in the world of architecture.  13. multiple [ˈmʌltəpəl] adj.  If there are multiple things, there are many of them. → When the stunt went wrong, the man suffered multiple injuries.  14. narrate [næˈreit] v.  To narrate a story means to write about it or read it aloud. → This story was written by John, but Aaron is narrating it to the crowd.  15. notorious [nouˈtɔːriəs] adj.  When something is notorious, it is well-known because of something bad. → This area of town is notorious for gang activity.  16. outdated [ˈautˈdeitid] adj.  When something is outdated, it is old and no longer useful in modern time. → Tape players are becoming outdated because of digital music.  17. overall [ˈouvərɔːl] adv.  When a thing is talked about overall, the whole thing is considered. → Overall, the party was a huge success.  18. partiality [ˌpɑːrʃiˈæləti] n.  A partiality is a tendency to prefer one thing to another. → She has a partiality for walking to school instead of driving.  19. spontaneous [spɒnˈteiniəs] adj.  When an act is spontaneous, it is not planned. It happens suddenly. → My wife made a spontaneous decision to buy a new sofa while I was at work.  20. virtue [ˈvəːrtʃuː] n.  A virtue is a good quality or way of behaving. → My best virtue is forgiveness.

Unit 11: BEETHOVEN’S GIFT Beethoven’s Gift Beethoven was a great composer of classical music in the 1800s. Many biographies have been written that narrate his dominance in the music world. But do you know what really makes him special? Even though millions of people got to hear his multiple masterpieces, he never did. Beethoven wrote his best pieces after he went completely deaf! His partiality toward classical music developed when he was very young. He wasn’t interested in anything else as a child. When he was five, he learned how to play the piano. From then, nothing could stop his passion for writing and playing music. When Beethoven was twenty, he began to lose his hearing. He got acute, spontaneous pains in his ears. His hearing kept getting worse over time. It was inevitable that he would eventually lose it altogether. It was very hard for him to keep writing music. He lost the virtue of patience, and he became notorious for his aggression. Still, he never stopped trying. His passion for music compelled him to keep performing even after he went deaf. He couldn’t hear himself play, but he knew that his creations sounded gorgeous. His final concert was held at a huge banquet. He gave the musicians a cue, and they began to play. He directed the concert with all his heart. He couldn’t hear the music, but he said that he could feel it. Overall, performance was one of the finest in history. When it was over, he turned to the crowd. They clapped and cheered wildly. In that beautiful moment, the applause boosted his emotions, and he began to cry. In 1827, he suffered from lead poisoning. He didn’t survive the sickness, but his music did because great music never becomes outdated. Even though Beethoven is gone, his legacy will live on forever.

Unit 12: Brothers Word List  1. anthropology [ˌænθrəˈpɒlədʒi] n.  Anthropology is the study of people, society, and culture. → In anthropology class, I learned about simple tools that ancient cultures used.  2. applaud [əˈplɔːd] v.  To applaud means to clap in order to show approval. → Everyone cheered and applauded Manny’s efforts.  3. appoint [əˈpɔint] v.  To appoint someone to a job means to give the job to them. → Two students were appointed to help the scientists with their research.  4. compatible [kəmˈpætəbəl] adj.  When things are compatible, they work well or exist together successfully. → Jan and Fred are too different. They will never be compatible.  5. competence [ˈkɒmpətəns] n.  Competence is the ability to do something well or effectively. → The job was easy because the group had enough competence to do it well.  6. confer [kənˈfəːr] v.  To confer with someone means to discuss something with them to make a decision. → I will have to confer with my wife before I can purchase a new car.  7. consecutive [kənˈsekjətiv] adj.  When things are consecutive, they happen one after another without interruption. → The king ruled for ten consecutive years.  8. crude [kruːd] adj.  When something is crude, it is not exact or detailed, but it can still be useful. → She drew crude hearts on the ground to show how much she loved him.  9. cube [kjuːb] n.  A cube is a solid object with six square surfaces that are all the same size. → Please get me some ice cubes to put in my soda.  10. feedback [ˈfiːdbæk] n.  Feedback is comments to a person about how they are doing something. → I asked my boss for feedback on my work.  11. ignorance [ˈignərəns] n.  Ignorance of something is lack of knowledge about it. → When he failed the test, his ignorance of math was obvious.  12. masculine [ˈmæskjəlin] adj.  When something is masculine, it is a quality or thing related to men. → American football is usually considered a masculine sport.  13. monument [ˈmɒnjəmənt] n.  A monument is a structure that is built to remind people of a person or event. → A large monument was built to honor the brave soldiers.  14. muscular [ˈmʌskjələ:r] adj.  When someone is muscular, they are very fit and strong. → He exercised regularly so that his body could become muscular.  15. posture [ˈpɒstʃər] n.  A person’s posture is the position in which they stand or sit. → Your back will feel better if you improve your posture.  16. situate [ˈsitjueit] v.  To situate something means to place or build it in a certain place. → The road was situated between the forest and the lake.  17. supervise [ˈsuːpərvaiz] v.  To supervise something means to make sure that it is done correctly. → Allen supervised the construction workers to ensure everyone’s safety.  18. symmetry [ˈsimətri] n.  Symmetry is the state of having two halves that are exactly the same. → The artist made sure to use perfect symmetry when painting the butterfly.  19. tattoo [tæˈtuː] n.  A tattoo is a design that is drawn permanently on the skin with needles. → The surfer had tattoos on both his arms.  20. undergraduate [ˈʌndərˈgrædjuit] n.  An undergraduate is a student at a college who is studying fora bachelor’s degree. → She was excited to finish high school and enroll as an undergraduate in the fall.

Unit 12: BROTHERS Brothers John and Mark were brothers, but they were quite different people. Mark looked very masculine. He had a mustache and was very muscular. He was a sculptor. He made things out of stone. Mark was a good artist, but he was not very intelligent. John looked nothing like his brother. He was small and weak, but he was very smart. John was an undergraduate in college, and he studied anthropology and history. He knew a lot about ancient cultures. The brothers loved each other very much, but they thought they had nothing in common. One day, the mayor appointed Mark to build a monument: a statue of Egyptian Pharaoh, Tut. Mark agreed to do the job, but he had a problem. He had no idea who Pharaoh Tut was! However, he thought he had the competence to build a good statue anyway. He made some crude measurements and sculpted a statue of a very old man with a tattoo on his chest. Mark was proud of his work, but when John saw the statue, he laughed aloud. “What’s so funny?” Mark asked. John replied, “Your ignorance makes me laugh. Don’t you know that Tut was only a teenager when he was pharaoh? Let me help you. I’ll supervise your work. I’ll give you feedback, and we’ll make this a great monument.” Mark got another cube of stone. John told him what Tut looked like. “Make him tall with good posture,” John said. “And make sure there is symmetry in his body.” Mark conferred with John about every detail. For ten consecutive hours, the brothers worked. At last, the finished statue was situated in front of the museum. Everyone applauded the brothers’ good work. “We worked together very well. I guess we are compatible after all,” Mark said. John replied, “I agree! When we combine our talents, we are capable of greatness.”

Unit 13: The Old Hound Word List  1. brook [bruk] n.  A brook is a small stream. → Water flows down several brooks on the mountain.  2. cater [ˈkeitər] v.  To cater to someone means to provide them with all the things needed or wanted. → Bill was too sick to get out of bed, so his nurse catered to his needs.  3. considerate [kənˈsidərit] adj.  When someone is considerate, they pay attention to the needs of others. → The considerate boy gave a present to his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.  4. consumption [kənˈsʌmpʃən] n.  The consumption of food or drink is the act of eating or drinking it. → These apples are too rotten for consumption.  5. criteria [kraiˈtiəriə] n.  Criteria are factors on which a person judges or decides something. → Before she got the job, she had to meet all the necessary criteria.  6.crust [krʌst] n.  Crust is the tough outer part of a loaf of bread. → The little boy never ate the crust of his pizza.  7. degrade [diˈgreid] v.  To degrade someone means to cause people to have shame. → The teacher degraded Bob when she announced his poor performance to the class  8. entitle [enˈtaitl] v.  To entitle someone means to give them the rights to have or do something. → His golden ticket entitled him to sit in the front row at the concert.  9. escort [ˈeskɔːrt] v.  To escort people means to safely accompany them to a place. → Her bodyguards escorted her to the movie theater.  10. external [ikˈstəːrnəl] adj.  When something is external, it is connected to an outer part. → It is warm inside my house, but the external temperature is freezing.  11. facility [fəˈsiləti] n.  A facility is a building that exists for a particular purpose. → There are many educational facilities in big cities.  12. faculty [ˈfӕkəlti] n.  A faculty is a mental or physical ability. → The boy’s mental faculties impressed all of his teachers.  13. heap [hiːp] n.  A heap of things is a large pile of them. → After the building was torn down, all that was left was a heap of bricks.  14. hemisphere [ˈhemisfiər] n.  A hemisphere is one half of the earth. → In the northern hemisphere, the weather is usually warmest in July and August.  15. hound [haund] n.  A hound is a type of dog that is often used for racing or hunting. → The men took their hounds with them when they went on the hunting trip.  16. impersonal [imˈpəːrsənəl] adj.  If something is impersonal, it is not friendly and makes people feel unimportant. → The boy felt scared on his first day at the big, impersonal high school.  17. ornament [ˈɔːrnəmənt] n.  An ornament is an attractive object that people display in their homes. → The woman kept some colorful ornaments on the shelves.  18. pedestrian [pəˈdestriən] n.  A pedestrian is a person who is walking on a street. → Cars should be careful when pedestrians are walking around.  19. sanctuary [ˈsӕŋktʃuəri] n.  A sanctuary is a place where people in danger can go to be safe. → The church was made into a sanctuary for homeless people in the winter.  20. spectator [spekˈteitə:r] n.  A spectator is someone who watches something, especially a sports event. → There were thousands of spectators at the big game.

Unit 13: THE OLD HOUND The Old Hound Elvis was a dog that loved to run. He possessed all the criteria to be a great racing dog. He had long legs, lean muscles, and a strong heart. He was so good that he never lost a race in the northern hemisphere. Spectators who bet on dog races always picked Elvis to win. After ten years of racing, however, Elvis was getting old. His faculties were not as strong as they used to be. His owner got upset when Elvis started losing. Elvis’s owner wasn’t a considerate person. He degraded the dog all the time. Finally, his owner decided to get rid of him. He threw Elvis in his car and took him to the middle of the forest. He tossed him out and drove away. Elvis was cold and scared. He decided to follow a brook into the city. Elvis soon found out that the city was a big and impersonal place. Everywhere he went, he saw signs that said, “No Dogs Allowed.” Pedestrians yelled at him. He was sad, hungry, and alone. He thought that all people were as cruel and uncaring as his owner had been. He was ready to give up when he heard a soft voice say, “What a beautiful hound!” Elvis looked up and saw an old woman. She said, “You’re entitled to a better life than this. I can take you to a sanctuary for old dogs like you. I’ll cater to all your needs. Would you like to come with me?” The woman escorted Elvis to a beautiful facility. There was a sign on the external door that said, “Dogs Welcome!” The interior of the building was painted blue, and shiny ornaments hung from the ceiling. There was a heap of tasty bones and bread crusts for consumption. Elvis learned there were kind people in the world after all. He was so thankful that he jumped up and licked the woman's face.

.Unit 14: Day Without Sight Word List  1. asset [ˈæset] n.  An asset is a skill or quality that is useful or valuable. → The coach realized the boy’s speed was an asset to the team.  2. aspect [ˈæspekt] n.  An aspect is one part or feature of something. → I thought about the different aspects of owning two dogs.  3. Braille [breil] n.  Braille is a system of raised patterns on paper that allows the blind to read. → The boy enjoyed reading his favorite books written in Braille.  4. bud [bʌd] n.  A bud is a part of a plant that turns into a flower or a leaf. → Two weeks after planting the seed, a small bud appeared.  5. coordinate [kouˈɔːrdəneit] v.  To coordinate things is to make different parts work together. → Each skating team had to coordinate their movements for the show.  6. disprove [disˈpruːv] v.  To disprove something means to show that it is not true. → The scientist disproved the theory that the sun moved around the Earth.  7. humanitarian [hjuːˌmænəˈtɛəriən] adj.  If something is humanitarian, it is connected to helping people’s lives. → After the flood, several humanitarian organizations offered help.  8. hypothesis [haiˈpɒθəsis] n.  A hypothesis is an idea for something that has not been proved yet. → The teacher did an experiment to prove whether his hypothesis was right.  9. imprint [imˈprint] n.  An imprint is an effect or lesson from an experience that is hard to forget. → The experience ofwarleftan imprint on his mind that troubled him.  10. informative [inˈfɔːrmətiv] adj.  When something is informative, it provides a lot of information. → The travel guide had a lot of informative facts about the region.  11. optic [ˈɒptik] adj.  When something is optic, it relates to the eyes or light. → Her blindness was caused by a problem with her optic nerve.  12. premise [ˈpremis] n.  A premise is an idea on which something is based. → The premise of the movie that Bobbi and I watched was unrealistic.  13. rack [ræk] n.  A rack is an object with shelves that holds things. → He stored his tools on a rack.  14. Renaissance [reˈnəsɑːns] n.  The Renaissance was a period between the 14th and 17th centuries. → Leonardo Da Vinci was a popular artist of the Renaissance.  15. revere [riviə:r] v.  To revere something is to admire it greatly. → The students revere their teacher, who has taught them a lot.  16. simultaneous [ˌsaiməlˈteiniəs] adj.  When something is simultaneous, it occurs at the same time as something else. → The movement of the gears inside the watch was simultaneous.  17. skeptic [ˈskeptik] n.  A skeptic is a person who does not believe something. → The scientist showed the skeptic that dinosaurs did exist by providing evidence.  18. spatial [ˈspeiʃəl] adj.  When something is spatial, it relates to the position and size of things. → He was asked where the books were located to test his spatial ability.  19. specify [ˈspesəfai] v.  To specify is to describe something clearly. → The poster didn’t specify where the concert was taking place.  20. wax [wæks] n.  Wax is a substance that is slightly shiny and melts when heated. → The candles are made of wax.

Unit 14: DAY WITHOUT SIGHT Day Without Sight On Friday afternoon, Sam’s teacher had a special assignment. “Next week, we’ll be studying humanitarian efforts around the world since the time of the Renaissance, including those to help the blind,” she said. “Over the weekend, I want each of you to wear a blindfold for an entire day. The premise of this experiment is that it will help you understand what it’s like to be blind,” she said. Sam was a skeptic. He really didn’t think the assignment would be too challenging. On Saturday morning, Sam took a piece of cloth and tied it around his head to cover his eyes. Then he went into the kitchen for breakfast. He heard the voices of his parents and brothers but couldn’t specify where each voice was coming from. He thought about how important hearing is for blind people. “Could you pass me the newspaper, please?” he asked. Just then, he remembered he couldn’t see the words on the page. He wondered if Braille newspapers were ever made. After finishing breakfast, his brothers asked him to play soccer. As he followed them, he accidentally walked into the baker’s rack. He also found that he couldn’t play soccer. He wouldn’t be able to coordinate his actions without being able to see. Without his optic senses, he had no spatial awareness. Furthermore, he couldn’t do simultaneous activities because he had to make sure he was safe first. He sat on the lawn. Suddenly, he realized that though he couldn’t see, his other senses worked perfectly fine. In fact, he began to realize new and different aspects of common objects. For example, he took a flower bud and felt it with his finger. He realized for the first time that it seemed to be covered with wax. His hypothesis about being blind was disproved. The informative experiment had an imprint on him. It showed him sight was an asset that should be appreciated and taught him to revere the talents of blind people.

Unit 15: The Big Ship Word List  1. accessory [ækˈsesəri] n.  An accessory is a thing that is added to another thing to make it look better. → The store sold colorful accessories like bags, sunglasses, and makeup.  2. acquisition [ˌækwəziʃən] n.  An acquisition is something that a person buys or gets in some way. → Marty was happy with his new acquisition: a very fast bicycle.  3. adequate [ˈædikwit] adj.  When something is adequate, it is good enough for something else. → Without adequate notice of the road block, they will have to turn around.  4. cardboard [ˈkɑːrdbɔːrd] n.  Cardboard is a material made out of stiff paper. It is often used to make boxes. → We packed our things into cardboard boxes and moved to our new home.  5. dilemma [diˈlemə] n.  A dilemma is a difficult situation in which a choice has to be made. → Choosing either the tastier or healthier drink proved to be quite a dilemma.  6. elaborate [iˈlæbərit] adj.  When something is elaborate, it contains a lot of details. → She gave the teacher an elaborate explanation of her project.  7. facilitate [fəˈsiləteit] v.  To facilitate something is to make it easier. → To facilitate the meeting, Melissa used a simple computer program.  8. fleet [fliːt] n.  A fleet is a group of ships. → The fleet of ships spent a few days at the dock.  9.grid [grid] n.  A grid is a pattern of squares with numbers and letters to find places on a map. → We located our town using the grid.  10. import [ˈimpɔːrt] v.  To import means to bring in a product from another country. → Foods that have been imported are usually more expensive.  11. infer [inˈfəːr] v.  To infer something is to decide it is true based on other information one has. → By the position of the sun in the sky, she inferred that it was noon.  12. inflate [inˈfleit] v.  To inflate something means to fill it up with air. → I helped him inflate the balloons.  13. innate [iˈneit] adj.  When something is innate, it is something that one is born with, it is not learned. → He had the innate desire to please his teachers.  14. marble [ˈmɑːrbəl] n.  Marble is a type of rock that feels cold and is smooth when cut. → The large house had floors made of marble.  15. mast [mæst] n.  A mast is a long pole on a ship that holds the sail. → The mast held both sails of the ship upright.  16. nausea [ˈnɔːziə] n.  Nausea is the feeling of being sick to your stomach. → The doctor said the medicine would help get rid of her nausea.  17. naval [ˈneivəl] adj.  When something is naval, it relates to a country’s navy or military ships. → The country sent all of its naval forces to protect them.  18. pouch [pautʃ] n.  A pouch is a small, flexible bag that is usually made of cloth. → I keep my money in a small pouch.  19. saturated [ˈsætʃəreitid] adj.  If something is saturated, it is completely wet. → Leigh’s hair became saturated in the rain storm.  20. update [ʌpˈdeit] n.  An update is an act of making something more modern. → I’m doing an update on my personal phone directory.

Unit 15: THE BIG SHIP The Big Ship Ernest looked at his fleet of ships. Usually, he used them for his firm, which imported marble statues from other countries. But today he was going fishing. And the ship he chose was his favorite. It had an elaborate painting on the side that showed a naval battle. It also had some new updates to its computer system. His favorite ship’s latest acquisition was a device with a small grid to show the ship’s exact location. This new accessory kept Ernest from getting lost. At daybreak, Ernest happily sailed the temperate waters until he was far from land. Then he saw a small boat in the distance. There was an old man standing next to its mast. He was waving his arms in the air. There was also a boy with his head hanging over the boat’s edge. Ernest inferred that the boy was suffering from nausea. Both of their clothes were saturated with sea water. Ernest assumed that they were in trouble. Most people never realized, but Ernest had an innate desire to help people. He began sailing toward them, eager to facilitate their rescue and thus solve their dilemma. As he got closer to the boat, he was shocked by its simplicity. The boat’s wood looked no stronger than cardboard, and the equipment was old. Still, there were several large fish in a pouch in the boat. Ernest threw a large package onto the boat. He yelled, “Here! You can inflate this boat to get you back to land.” “Get out of here!” screamed the old man. Ernest was confused. “Don’t you need help?” he asked. “Your ship doesn’t seem adequate enough to sail so far away from land.” “You’ve just scared away a huge fish,” the boy said. “We waved to let you know you were too close to us.” Ernest turned around and headed home. He learned that it’s better not to help unless asked to. Otherwise, you might not help anyone at all.

Unit 16: The History of Parachutes Word List  1. addict [ˈædikt] n.  An addict is a person who cannot stop doing or having something. → She was a coffee addict. She had more than three cups each day.  2. archeological [ˌɑːrkiəˈlɒdʒikəl] adj.  When something is archeological, it relates to archeology. → They found archeological evidence that proved an ancient species of man.  3. archeology [ˌɑːrkiˈɒlədʒi] n.  Archeology is the study of ancient people through their artifacts. → He studied archeology to learn more about ancient Egyptian culture.  4. brainstorm [ˈbreinstɔːrm] v.  To brainstorm is to have a lot of ideas about a certain topic. → The students met after school to brainstorm ideas for their assignment.  5. budget [ˈbʌdʒit] n.  A budget is the amount of money available to spend on something. → His budget for food was very tight.  6. chaotic [keiˈɒtik] adj.  When something is chaotic, it is crazy, confused, and hectic. → The first day of school can be chaotic for a new student.  7. cite [sait] v.  To cite something is to mention it as an example or as proof of something. → She cited six reasons that the school needed to build new classrooms.  8. correspond [ˌkɔ:rəsˈpɒnd] v.  To correspond is to match or to be similar to something. → The boy’s story didn’t correspond with his mother’s version.  9. courtyard [ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd] n.  A courtyard is an outdoor area that is surrounded by the walls of a building. → During the summer, the courtyard is a nice place to have lunch.  10. estate [isˈteit] n.  An estate is a large area of land owned by a family or organization. → He lived on his father’s estate in the country.  11. fraud [frɔːd] n.  Fraud is the crime of gaining money by lying or by tricking people. → Experts say that credit card fraud increases around the holidays.  12. hydrogen [ˈhaidrədʒən] n.  Hydrogen is a gas that has no taste, color, or smell. → Balloons filled with hydrogen can easily float away if you aren’t careful.  13. integrity [inˈtegrəti] n.  Integrity is honesty and good morals. → The principal had a lot of integrity.  14. knit [nit] v.  To knit is to make fabric by connecting strings together. → My grandmother knitted me a sweater.  15. outlook [ˈautluk] n.  An outlook is a person’s opinion or way of thinking about something. → He changed his outlook about rats after he read a book about them.  16. parachute [ˈpærəʃuːt] n.  A parachute is a device that helps people and things fall to the ground safely. → They used parachutes dropped from airplanes to send supplies to the civilians.  17. prehistoric [ˈpriːhisˈtɔ:rik] adj.  When something is prehistoric, it is from a time when there was no written history. → The scientists found prehistoric pots used by the people in the area.  18. proponent [prəˈpounənt] n.  A proponent is a person who supports an idea or a plan. → He was a proponent of using environmentally friendly products.  19. refine [riˈfain] v.  To refine something is to make it better by making changes. → The principal refined his method of controlling students over the years.  20. restrict [risˈtrikt] v.  To restrict is to limit something and prevent it from getting bigger. → The club restricted the amount of members.

Unit 16: THE HISTORY OF PARACHUTES The History of Parachutes Scientists who study archeology say that there may be some evidence of prehistoric parachutes. But the first written history of the device comes from China about 2,100 years ago. Scientists cite an ancient book that describes parachutes. However, there is no archeological evidence that proves that an actual parachute was ever made. Later, people from northern Africa and Italy also had ideas about a similar invention. In fact, a Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawing corresponds closely with the modern parachute design! In 1783, French scientist Sebastian Lenormand invented the first modern parachute. Sebastian brainstormed with other scientists to come up with a way to help people jump safely out of burning buildings. He thought the solution was to give people an object to restrict their speed while they traveled toward the ground. Many people thought that he was up to some kind of fraud, but Sebastian had a lot of integrity. His budget was limited, so he first tested his theory by using two umbrellas. He jumped out of a tree and found that the umbrellas worked. Next, he refined his invention. Rather than using umbrellas, he knit a large parachute. Finally, he jumped off a tall building on a French estate and landed safely in the courtyard. Sebastian’s work gave another man an idea. Jean-Pierre Blanchard had a different outlook than Sebastian. He was a hot air balloon addict. He was one of the first people to ride in a hot air balloon powered by hydrogen gas. He was a proponent of using the parachutes to exit from hot air balloons. Starting in 1785, he used his dog to show that animals could land safely from hot air balloons by using parachutes. Then, in 1793, he was faced with a chaotic experience. The hot air balloon he was riding in burst and started to fall. He was forced to use a parachute himself. And much to his relief, it saved his life!

Unit 17: “I Didn’t Do It!” Word List  1. attorney [əˈtəːrni] n.  An attorney is one who gives others advice about the law. → The attorney appeared in front of the judge for me.  2. chronic [ˈkrɒnik] adj.  When something is chronic, it happens over and over again over time. → He had chronic pain in his chest and needed to see a doctor.  3. discipline [ˈdisəplin] n.  Discipline is training that helps people follow the rules. → One of the teacher’s jobs is to teach her students discipline.  4. donor [ˈdounər] n.  A donor is somebody who gives something to an organization. → He was proud to be a blood donor.  5. fellow [ˈfelou] n.  A fellow is someone who shares a job or quality with someone else. → All of my fellow patients at the hospital have also complained about the food.  6. gossip [ˈgɒsip] n.  Gossip is information that might be untrue but is still discussed anyway. → The friends exchanged gossip about the people they knew in school.  7. graduate [ˈgrædjueit] v.  To graduate from a school means to complete and pass all courses of study there. → At the end of the spring, my friends and I will graduate from high school.  8. graffiti [grəˈfiːti:] n.  Graffiti is words or drawings in public places. → The wall was covered with colorful graffiti.  9. guardian [ˈgɑːrdiən] n.  A guardian is someone who protects somebody or something. → The librarians are the guardians of the books.  10. implicate [ˈimpləkeit] v.  To implicate someone is to show that they have done a crime or something bad. → The man was implicated in the theft at the store.  11. kin [kin] n.  Kin is a person’s family and relatives. → His kin were all farmers.  12. referee [ˌrefəˈriː] n.  A referee is a person who makes sure that the rules are followed in sports. → The soccer player didn’t agree with the referee.  13. sever [ˈsevə:r] v.  To sever something is to cut through it completely. → He severed the string using scissors.  14. shaft [ʃæft] n.  A shaft is a handle of a tool or weapon. → The golf club had a long wooden shaft that he held in his hands.  15. stab [stæb] v.  To stab means to cut someone or something with a sharp object like a knife. → He stabbed the fork into the potato and passed it to his daughter.  16. stimulus [ˈstimjələs] n.  A stimulus is something that causes growth or activity. → Having a lot of money is a stimulus for people to buy more things.  17. suspicion [səsˈpiʃən] n.  A suspicion is a feeling that something is possible or true in a crime. → The police had a suspicion that the driver had stolen the purse.  18. terminate [ˈtəːrməneit] v.  To terminate something means to stop or end it. → The trip was terminated after the car broke down.  19. theme [θiːm] n.  A theme is the main subject of a book, movie, or painting. → The students discussed the book’s theme in class.  20. tuition [tju:iʃən] n.  Tuition is the amount of money paid to go to a school. → University tuitions have increased by fifty percent in the last five years.

Unit 17: “I DIDN’T DO IT!” “I Didn’t Do It!” Billy was in big trouble. The day before, a donor gave the school a painting with a sports theme. It showed a referee congratulating two athletes. The principal hung the painting in front of the office, hoping that it would be a stimulus for students to play sports. The next morning, however, the painting was destroyed. There was graffiti on it, and it had many holes in it. The worst part was that one of Billy’s fellow students said she thought she saw Billy do it! But Billy didn’t do it. The principal called Billy’s parents and said, “Billy won’t tell us the truth. He’s a chronic liar, and he ruined the painting. If you don’t pay for it, we’ll terminate his education here.” Billy’s parents didn’t have enough money to pay for the painting and for his tuition. But Billy’s parents had an idea. That afternoon, they went to see Mr. Meyers, an attorney. “Mr. Meyers, my son has been implicated in a crime he says he didn’t do,” Billy’s father said. “Everybody believes the gossip. Even some of our own kin think he did it!” “I believe you. My suspicion is that the tape from the security cameras will show who really did it,” said Mr. Meyers. The next day, Mr. Meyers received a packet with the videotape from the school. It showed another student who resembled Billy walking up to the painting and writing on it. Then the student took a knife by the shaft and started to stab large holes in it. Finally, he severed the rope that held up the painting, and it fell to the floor. Mr. Meyers showed the tape to the principal. “Clearly, that’s not Billy,” he said. “This boy is actually responsible and needs some discipline.” Billy was happy that someone believed him. He said to Mr. Meyers, “When I graduate and go to university, I will major in law, so I can be a guardian of justice like you!”

Unit 18: The Soldier’s Decision Word List  1. aggressive [əˈgresiv] adj.  If someone is aggressive, then they constantly want to fight. → Nobody liked to play games with him because he was always too aggressive.  2. amnesty [ˈӕmnəsti] n.  Amnesty is a pardon given to prisoners of war. → She was denied amnesty for her involvement in the war.  3. arena [əˈriːnə] n.  An arena is a building where people can watch sports and concerts. → The new arena was all set to hold the championship match.  4. auditorium [ˌɔːdiˈtɔːriəm] n.  An auditorium is a large building used for public events. → People have gathered at the school auditorium to watch the play.  5. captive [ˈkæptiv] n.  A captive is a prisoner. → The guards told the captive that there was no way he could escape the prison.  6. combat [ˈkɒmbæt] n.  Combat is fighting between two people or groups. → The two warriors were locked in combat.  7. commonplace [ˈkɒmənpleis] adj.  If something is commonplace, then it is ordinary. → There is nothing commonplace about the way Morris dresses.  8. compound [ˈkɒmpaund] n.  A compound is an enclosed area such as a prison or factory. → The workers waited outside the compound for the gates to the factory to open.  9. corps [kɔːr] n.  A corps is a division of a military force. → The army had a corps of archers who trained apart from the regular soldiers.  10. distract [disˈtrækt] v.  To distract someone means to stop them from concentrating on something. → The phone call distracted him so much that he forgot all about his homework.  11. dumb [dʌm] adj.  If someone is dumb, they are unable to speak. → She did not share the secret. She remained silent as if she were dumb.  12. foe [fou] n.  A foe is an enemy or opponent. → It was hard to believe that anyone could be his foe.  13. hack [hæk] v.  To hack something means to cut it into uneven pieces. → My uncle used the ax to hack the tree into many logs.  14. meditate [ˈmedəteit] v.  To meditate means to focus or think deeply in silence. → She liked to meditate for several hours of each day.  15. nick [nik] v.  To nick someone means to cut them slightly with a sharp object. → While cutting the carrots, the cook nicked his finger with the edge of his knife.  16. provoke [prəˈvouk] v.  To provoke someone means to annoy them on purpose to cause violence. → The older boy provoked Paul by calling him mean names.  17. realm [relm] n.  A realm is any area of activity or interest. → He was not very active in the realm of business.  18. reign [rein] n.  A reign is the period of time in which a ruler rules. → The emperor’s reign lasted for only two years.  19. rust [rʌst] n.  Rust is a red and brown coating on iron objects caused by water and air. → The old metal gate would not swing because the hinges were covered in rust.  20. sacred [ˈseikrid] adj.  If something is sacred, then it is worshipped and respected. → One religion in India will not harm cows because it believes that they are sacred.

Unit 18: THE SOLDIER’S DECISION The Soldier’s Decision A soldier was captured while fighting in an enemy king’s land. It was well known that this king would make captives fight one another. This was commonplace during his reign. For these fights, the king had built several large arenas. He often awarded the winners by setting them free or even having them join his elite army corps. The soldier, however, decided he had seen too much violence. He now felt that all life was sacred. The night before his first match, he made a risky decision. He decided that he would not engage in combat. He knew he may never be set free, but it was a decision that he was willing to accept. In the morning, he was led from the prisoners’ compound to one of the king’s arenas. A gate coated in rust stood between him and the auditorium’s floor. He was worried, but he knew what he had to do. When the gate opened, he calmly walked to the center of the arena and sat. He started to meditate. His foe Darius, who was skilled in the realm of sword fighting and was typically not very aggressive, would not fight the quiet soldier until he attacked Darius first. Darius tried to provoke him by hacking at the air close to his head with his sword. But the soldier was not distracted. He sat quietly, as if he were dumb, and looked calmly up at the sky. Even when Darius nicked him on the cheek with the edge of his sword, the soldier did not move. At last he threw down his sword and shield and gave up. “I can’t fight someone who refuses to fight me!” Darius shouted to the king. The king was very impressed with the soldier. Never in any battle had he seen someone so brave. As a result, he gave the peaceful soldier amnesty. The soldier’s actions proved to the king and everyone in the arena that peace was more powerful than fighting.

Unit 19: Jane’s Pride Word List  1. accordingly [əˈkɔːrdiŋli] adv.  If someone acts accordingly, they act in a way that is suitable. → He feels like he did a good job, and his boss should pay him accordingly.  2. anchor [ˈæŋkər] n.  An anchor is a heavy object dropped from a boat to make it stay in one place. → When the ship reached its destination, the crew dropped the anchor.  3. buoy [ˈbuːi] n.  A buoy is a floating sign that warns boats of dangerous areas. → Don’t steer the boat near those buoys. There are rocks underneath the water.  4. catastrophe [kəˈtæstrəfi] n.  A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage. → It was a catastrophe for my family when my dad lost his job.  5. context [ˈkɒntekst] n.  Context is the situations that form the background of an event. → They studied the context of the battle before giving their presentation.  6. designate [ˈdezigneit] v.  To designate someone or something means to give them a particular description. → The famous lighthouse was designated a historical monument.  7. distort [disˈtɔːrt] v.  To distort something means to lie about it. → His lawyer distorted the facts so that he would be set free.  8. dock [dɒk] n.  A dock is an enclosed area where ships go to be loaded, unloaded, and repaired. → The huge ship pulled into the dock, and the crew unloaded the cargo.  9. fore [fɔːr] n.  The fore of something is the front part of it. → The teacher’s desk is at the fore of the classroom.  10. frequent [ˈfriːkwənt] adj.  If something is frequent, then it happens or is done often. → While Dad was sick, the doctor made frequent visits to his house.  11. genuine [ˈdʒenjuin] adj.  When something is genuine, it is true or real. → After the painting was determined to be genuine, it sold for a million dollars.  12. grease [griːs] n.  Grease is an oily substance put on moving parts, so they work smoothly. → When I was done working on the car, I had grease all over my hands.  13. intricate [ˈintrəkit] adj.  When something is intricate, it has many small parts or details. → The intricate painting on the quilt was very lovely.  14. offset [ˈɔ:fset] v.  To offset means to use one thing to cancel out the effect of another thing. → Increased wages are offset by higher prices for goods.  15. overlap [ˈouvərlæp] v.  To overlap something means to cover a piece of it. → The gift on top overlaps the other gift on the bottom.  16. precipitate [priˈsipəteit] v.  To precipitate an event means to cause it to happen sooner than normal. → The violent attack precipitated an all-out war.  17. secondhand [ˈsekəndˈhænd] adj.  When something is secondhand, it has been owned by someone else. → Her secondhand jeans were a bit faded in the front.  18. slot [slɒt] n.  A slot is a narrow opening in a machine or container. → To operate the machine, put your coins into the slot.  19. submerge [səbˈməːrdʒ] v.  To submerge something means to put it below the surface of a liquid. → The whale submerged its huge body into the ocean.  20. tactic [ˈtæktik] n.  A tactic is a careful plan to achieve something. → Sam thought of a good tactic in order to attract more business.

Unit 19: JANE’S PRIDE Jane’s Pride Jane and her father, Mike, owned a secondhand boat. They called it “High Hopes.” The two loved to spend time together on the ocean and would often go on long fishing trips. Mike taught Jane how to perform important tasks. Jane learned how to steer the boat and adjust the sails. She learned how to put grease on the intricate gears of the motor. She learned how to submerge the anchor and secure it by putting a rope in a slot. Jane liked helping her father, but she thought that she wasn’t very good at it. Sometimes, she omitted important steps and made frequent mistakes. Jane thought she wasn’t capable of manual labor. Mike wanted to prove to her that she was indeed capable and important. He thought of a tactic to test Jane’s skills in the context of a catastrophe. He hid under the deck and pretended to be trapped. He shouted, “Jane, I can’t get out! You have to get back to the dock and find help!” Jane began to panic. She thought she might make her usual mistakes, which would precipitate a disaster. However, she had to listen to her dad and act accordingly. She pulled up the anchor with all of her might. She remembered to overlap the sails to offset the wind. She steered the boat around buoys where the water was shallow. When they got to shore, Mike came out from under the deck. Jane said, “I thought you were trapped!” Mike laughed. He said, “It wasn’t a genuine emergency. I distorted the truth to test your abilities. Look at what a great job you did getting the boat home safely! I knew you could do it.” To honor his daughter, Mike decided to rename his boat. He designated it “Jane’s Pride” and painted the name on the fore of the ship. Jane finally had something to be proud of.

Unit 20: Microchips Word List  1. aggregate [ˈӕgrəgit] adj.  When a number is aggregate, it is made up of smaller amounts added together. → The company totaled its aggregate sales for the entire year.  2. antibiotic [ˈæntibaiˈɒtik] n.  An antibiotic is a medical drug used to kill bacteria and treat infections. → The doctor gave me a shot of an antibiotic when I got the flu.  3. circuit [ˈsəːrkit] n.  A circuit is a piece of an electronic device that allows electricity to flow. → Be very careful not to shock yourself when fixing an electrical circuit.  4. complement [ˈkɒmpləment] v.  To complement something or someone is to make them better. → The wool scarf complemented her lovely eyes.  5. compress [kəmˈpres] v.  To compress something means to press or squeeze it so that it takes up less space. → I compressed my clothes to fit into a single suitcase.  6. database [ˈdeitəbeis] n.  A database is a collection of data that is stored in a computer. → The company has a database of all the names and accounts of their customers.  7. equivalent [iˈkwivələnt] n.  An equivalent is an amount or value that is the same as another amount or value. → I worked the equivalent of sixty hours this week.  8. immune [iˈmjuːn] adj.  When someone is immune to a disease, they cannot be affected by it. → Children usually get shots to make them immune to certain diseases.  9. input [ˈinput] n.  Input is information that is put into a computer. → Type the input into the computer program.  10. intimate [ˈintəmit] adj.  When a relationship is intimate, the two things are very closely connected. → I only tell my secrets to my most intimate friends.  11. magnet [ˈmægnit] n.  A magnet is a piece of iron or other material which attracts iron toward it. → I used a magnet to pick up the nails that were scattered on the floor.  12. metabolism [məˈtæbəlizəm] n.  A person’s metabolism is the way chemical processes in their body use energy. → If you exercise every day, your metabolism speeds up.  13. microchip [ˈmaikrouˌtʃip] n.  A microchip is a small device inside a computer that holds information. → I can put more data on my computer if I buy a more powerful microchip.  14. phase [feiz] n.  A phase is a stage in a process or the gradual development of something. → The first phase in the recycling project involves finding volunteers to help out.  15. pinch [pintʃ] v.  To pinch means to take a piece of skin between one’s fingers and squeeze. → I pinched my nose, so I couldn’t smell the odor from the garbage.  16. prevalent [ˈprevələnt] adj.  When something is prevalent, it is common. → Growing a beard is more prevalent behavior in men than women.  17. quantum [ˈkwɒntəm] adj.  When something is quantum, it relates to the behavior of atomic particles. → The physics student studied quantum mechanics.  18. ratio [ˈreiʃou] n.  A ratio is a relationship between two things expressed in numbers or amounts. → The boy to girl ratio is one to three.  19. spiral [ˈspaiərəl] n.  A spiral is a shape which winds round and round in a larger and larger circle. → A strand of DNA looks like two interlocking spirals.  20. viral [ˈvaiərəl] adj.  When something is viral, it is a disease or infection that is caused by a virus. → The girl was in bed fora week when she had a viral infection.

Unit 20: MICROCHIPS Microchips The bond between humans and computers is becoming more intimate than ever before. Scientists are now putting microchips inside people’s bodies. They are made up of compressed electrical circuits that can detect and record data about the body. They are tiny, but they hold the equivalent amount of data as most computers. A microchip is put to use inside a person with a simple procedure. First, a doctor must put data about the patient onto a chip. Input about the person’s age, race, gender, and medical history is stored on the chip. The second phase of the process involves putting it in the person’s skin. The doctor pinches a piece of skin and cuts a tiny hole with a tool shaped like a spiral. The chip is inserted, and the skin is allowed to heal. At last, it begins the task of putting data into its database. Microchips scan the patient’s body to record what is happening on the quantum level. They can find problems with the person’s metabolism and organs. They can also detect viral infections. They can find the aggregate number of immune and infected cells and present the results in a ratio. They can even tell doctors what type of antibiotic to give to the patient! To recover the chip’s data, the doctor uses a special magnet that copies it. This way, the doctor can put the information from the chip onto a computer. Then they can find out exactly what is wrong with the person. The idea of putting chips in humans is still very new. However, it is now becoming more prevalent. Scientists and doctors are hopeful about the future uses of microchips. Someday, all new babies might get a microchip soon after they are born. Doctors will be able to know about any problems from the very beginning. It is obvious that medicine and computers complement each other well.